Maple Gold Mines Ltd (TSX-V:MGM, OTCQB:MGMLF) revealed that it has appointed accomplished geologist and industry veteran Paul Harbidge to its technical committee, which helps guide exploration and drilling for the company's projects in Québec, Canada.
The Vancouver-based advanced exploration company also provided an update on the ongoing deep drilling programs at the district-scale Douay and Joutel gold projects in Quebec, which are held by a 50:50 joint venture (JV) between Maple and Agnico Eagle Mines Limited.
Harbidge, a geologist with over 25 years of experience, has a track record of discovering world-class gold deposits. He is currently CEO and a director of Faraday Copper Corp (CSE:FDY, OTCQX:CPPKF), a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing two copper projects in the US.
He was previously CEO of GT Gold Corp (TSX-V:GTT) and led the company to a C$456 million acquisition by Newmont Mining Corp in May 2021. Prior to that, Harbidge was senior VP of exploration at Goldcorp Inc from 2016 until its acquisition by Newmont in April 2019. He also led the exploration team at Randgold Resources that was credited with five major gold discoveries.
Harbidge holds a first-class Honours degree in Geology from Kingston University, London and a Master of Science in Mineral Exploration and Mining Geology degree from Leicester University in the UK.
"We are thrilled to have Paul Harbidge join our Technical Committee, as his experience successfully leading teams to multiple world-class gold discoveries further strengthens our technical group during this critical phase of growth," said Maple Gold CEO Matthew Hornor in a statement.
Advancing Douay and Joutel gold projects
Maple is going through a busy spell, ramping up exploration at the Douay and Joutel gold projects in Quebec's prolific Abitibi Greenstone Gold Belt.
“2023 is shaping up to be an exciting year for the JV as we approach completion of the first phase, approximately 6,000 meters (m) of deep drilling at Joutel, and with the planned deep drilling campaign (approximately 10,000m) at Douay testing beneath the known 6 x 2-kilometer (km) resource footprint already well underway," noted Hornor.
Maple said that a total of six drill holes and drillhole extensions are planned at Douay, several of which are expected to be drilled to 2,000m downhole or more. Deep drilling will test beneath the current mineral resource and across the favorable Casa Berardi North Fault corridor, where modeled wireframes demonstrate the potential for higher-grade (>2 grams per ton gold) mineralization at greater depths, said the company.
Maple said deep drilling at Douay started in early-January this year with drill hole DO-23-331, which is collared 400m southwest of the conceptual pit limits at the 531 Zone. Previous drilling at the 531 Zone has returned some of the highest-grade and largest gold accumulations at Douay, including 8.8 grams per ton (g/t) gold (Au) over 28.5m at a depth of 295m in drill hole DO-21-310.
While the primary target for this hole is 1,900m downhole, where it is expected to intersect the projection of the defined mineralized zone at the 531 Zone significantly down-plunge, DO-23-331 will also serve to test the full width of the mineralized corridor in this area, explained the company.
Meanwhile, DO-23-331 is currently approaching 1,100m downhole and is proving to be more mineralized than anticipated in the hanging wall rocks, said the company.
Five rigs to be turning
Maple revealed that two additional drill rigs were recently mobilized to Douay and as previously reported the company expects five rigs to be turning concurrently throughout the first quarter of the year.
"We are encouraged and cautiously optimistic after observing significant pyrite mineralization in the upper portion of the first deep drill hole in an area well south of the 531 Zone with very limited drilling," said Fred Speidel, VP of Exploration at Maple Gold.
"These initial observations point to the potential for these deep drill holes to intersect new mineralized horizons enroute to the targeted depths," he added.
Maple said that assays for the entire deep drilling program at Douay and Joutel are pending and the results will be released over the coming months as they are received.
Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com
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